DAP Youth has demanded Likas state assemblyperson Junz Wong resign from his seat, after he quit DAP in favour of a Sabah-based party.
"The Likas seat was won under DAP's logo and it is the responsibility of Wong to relinquish the seat as per DAP's principles, which he believed and held on to all this while.
"There is no reason or excuse to justify holding on to the seat," said DAP Youth chief Wong Kah Woh in a statement this evening.
Kah Woh, who is also Canning state assemblyperson, said any party that aspires to oust BN should also be sincere in their struggle.
"They should not accept any defectors from parties which are in the same struggle," he said.
Kah Woh said if there was no sincerity even before a coalition to topple BN is formed in Sabah, then it would be difficult to instil trust.
Meanwhile, Sabah DAP chief Stephen Wong Tien Fatt condemned Junz's departure along with other DAP leaders, calling it an act of "frog hopping".
"They will pay a painful price for their arrogance and mistakes. They have betrayed the voters who voted for DAP in last general election.
"No matter what reason it may be, they can never justify their betrayal, nor can they escape from the people’s questioning or rationalise their 'frog hopping' behavior.
"This culture is most hated by the people of Sabah and it must be buried for the sake of Sabah," he said in a statement.
Tien Fatt said Junz had similarly demanded Hiew King Cheu to resign as Luyang state assemblyperson when later resigned from DAP in 2013.
"Now, we would like to apply the same standards on Junz Wong.
"We urge him to resign from the position of Likas assemblyman immediately," he said.
Junz announced his departure from DAP in a ceremony together with Klias state assemblyperson Lajim Ukin and Moyog state assemblyperson Terrence Siambun, who also announced their exit from PKR.
They plan to continue their political activities on a Sabah-based platform.
Lajim will be setting up his own political party while Siambun said he planned to join the party that is being set up by former Umno deputy president Shafie Apdal. Wong is still undecided.
Lajim, who as Sabah PKR chief, took with him 11 PKR divisions and promised more will follow while almost half of the Sabah DAP leadership also quit their party for the same purpose.
'Sabah PKR largely intact'
Meanwhile, PKR vice president Tian Chua in a statement said his party regretted Lajim's move.
Tian Chua stressed that Sabah PKR remained largely intact but said the party's organisation needed to be strengthened.
"A process to improve the party's organisation will be carried out soon to strengthen the leadership, and ensure that the reform agenda remains the core struggle in upholding justice in Sabah.
"Sabah PKR will remain an important component in the Sabah opposition and will play its important role in fighting for the rights and autonomy of Sabah in Malaysia," he said.
Tian Chua also reiterated PKR's willingness to cooperate with all quarters that want institutional reforms and defeating BN.
Meanwhile, Inanam state assemblyperson Roland Chia, who acted as spokesperson for the now headless Sabah PKR, said the party will enter a phase of consolidation.
"We will have a consensus among the 25 divisional leaders on the outcome of the new leadership structure.
"Like any appointments of leaders, selection criteria would be drawn up to be inclusive from all regions within Sabah, gender and racial composition.
"Once the restructuring of leadership is concluded, Sabah PKR will meet with our Sabah Pakatan Harapan counterparts, namely DAP and Parti Amanah Negara, to work out a formula with all local based opposition parties, to have a one-on-one fight against the BN regime in this coming 14th general election," he said.
